One young employee died and another was seriously injured after a fire at an IT company in Magnet Park, Thaltej, Ahmedabad, forced workers to attempt escape from the second floor, according to a report by Divya Bhaskar. Police have registered an accidental death case and begun an investigation.
The deceased was identified as Rachit Patel, a native of Rajkot who was living in a paying guest accommodation near Pakwan crossroads. He had completed an MBA around six months ago and had recently joined the company, according to a family member quoted in the report. The injured person remains admitted to Zydus Hospital for treatment.
The fire reportedly broke out at around 9.30 pm while between 30 and 40 employees were working in the office. Dense smoke blocked the building’s only main exit, triggering panic among those inside. Workers attempted to get out through windows on both sides of the office, and Patel and another person jumped from the building, the report said. Patel later died during treatment.
A police official, Bodakdev police station inspector Sandeep Khambhal, told Divya Bhaskar that Patel had died and that another person was still receiving treatment. Police have begun investigating the circumstances of the fire and the deaths and injuries arising from it.
A ground report from the site described a blood pool, footwear and other items at the location where the two people reportedly jumped. The report also said the area had not been properly barricaded. Images from inside the second-floor office showed extensive fire damage, with tables, chairs and employee belongings left behind. More than 70 computers were reportedly destroyed, while mobile phones kept in a company locker were also damaged.
The condition of the office indicates how quickly employees left while trying to save themselves. Purses, water bottles and other personal belongings were reportedly found on desks, suggesting that workers abandoned them during the evacuation. The fire was described as severe enough to burn much of the office’s internal structure.
Patel’s family has alleged that the company had experienced two earlier fires. A relative told Divya Bhaskar that employees and former workers had previously spoken about those incidents, although no one had been injured in the first incident and the second had not received adequate attention. The family has called for an investigation into fire safety arrangements, CCTV systems and other safety measures, and has sought action against the company.
The available report does not establish the cause of the fire, whether the premises had all required fire-safety approvals, or whether the main exit and alternative escape routes complied with regulations. Those questions are now part of the investigation. The authorities’ next steps will determine how the fire started, whether safety systems were operational and whether any violations contributed to the death and injury.
